Acclaimed director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday in their Brentwood home in what authorities are investigating as a homicide.
The couple, aged 78 and 68, suffered stab wounds, law enforcement sources told media outlets. No suspect has been identified, and no one is in custody, police said at a late Sunday press conference.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time,” the family said in a statement, ABC News reported.
Los Angeles police responded around 3:40 p.m. to a medical call at the residence on Chadbourne Avenue. The Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the probe, with senior commanders at the scene and no signs of forced entry reported.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that investigators were securing a search warrant for a full examination.
“At this time, the Los Angeles Police Department is not seeking anyone as a suspect or as a person of interest … and we will not be doing that until we conduct our investigation and move forward,” Hamilton said, per the LA Times.
A family member is being interviewed, sources said, though Hamilton noted no one has been detained.
Neighbors described the Reiners as community fixtures who often hosted gatherings. One said actors Billy Crystal and Larry David arrived after the police, with Crystal appearing distraught.
“Billy looked like he was about to cry,” the neighbor said, ABC News reported. “They’re a big presence on the block. They’re always having parties,” she added.
Reiner, son of comedian Carl Reiner, rose to fame playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family” from 1971 to 1979.
He directed classics including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally …,” and “A Few Good Men,” earning an Oscar nomination for the latter.
Reiner co-founded efforts to overturn California’s Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage, and championed early childhood programs through Proposition 10.
He married Singer, a photographer and producer, in 1989 after meeting on the set of “When Harry Met Sally…” They share three children: Jake, Nick, and Romy. Reiner was previously married to Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981.
“This is a devastating loss for our city and our country,” Mayor Karen Bass said, per ABC. “Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom called Reiner’s empathy timeless.
“His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others – and encouraging us to dream bigger,” Newsom said, ABC reported. “Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity.”
The Lear family, tied to “All in the Family” creator Norman Lear, mourned deeply.
“The Lear Family is devastated by the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner,” they said, according to ABC. “Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world.”
“Lyn Lear had remained very close with them and said, ‘The world is unmistakably darker tonight, and we are left bereft,'” the statement added.
Increased patrols were added in the neighborhood out of caution, according to local councilmember Traci Park.
